The NFL season kicks off on Thursday, which implies it’s virtually time to set your first fantasy soccer lineup for 2024.
Contemplating nearly all fantasy managers are rolling out the beginning lineup they locked in on draft day, there’s little purpose to suggest whether or not you must begin or sit a number of the NFL’s most notable names.
With that in thoughts, right here’s what to do relating to a number of FLEX choices and streaming candidates who chances are you’ll be on the fence about plugging into your beginning lineup in Week 1.
Quarterbacks
Begin: Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders
Commanders at Buccaneers / 4:25 p.m. ET Sunday
Though there’s apparent threat concerned in beginning somebody who’s by no means performed a regular-season snap, Daniels’ speeding upside offers him with a comparatively protected flooring, together with appreciable upside. To place into perspective the kind of dual-threat expertise Daniels is, the No. 2 total choose is the one quarterback in FBS historical past with not less than 12,000 passing yards and three,000 speeding yards in a profession.
Final season, Tampa Bay, which allowed the ninth-most fantasy factors to opposing quarterbacks, solely gave up 234 speeding yards to the place however did give up six touchdowns, the second-most amongst groups.
Different begins: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions; Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars
Sit: Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
Jets at 49ers / 8:15 p.m. ET Monday
Purdy was one of many largest steals in fantasy drafts final season, averaging 19.2 fantasy factors per recreation en path to a QB6 total end. Even so, whereas the 49ers boast one of many NFL’s prime offenses that includes a star-studded forged of talent place gamers, it’d be clever to bench Purdy you probably have one other viable possibility at quarterback.
The Jets return a majority of final season’s beginning protection, which allowed the fewest fantasy factors per recreation to opposing quarterbacks (12.2) and the third-fewest passing yards within the NFL (3,182). Moreover, there’s no telling how the 49ers will carry out, contemplating RB Christian McCaffrey, WR Brandon Aiyuk and LT Trent Williams have barely practiced this offseason.
Different sits: Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys; Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns
Operating backs
Begin: Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos
Broncos at Seahawks / 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday
A possible breakout candidate this season, Williams has a good matchup forward towards the Seahawks although the Broncos offense isn’t notably thrilling for fantasy functions.
Seattle’s protection needs to be more practical this season after the staff employed former Ravens DC Mike Macdonald as head coach and drafted DT Byron Murphy II within the first spherical. Nevertheless, the unit nonetheless allowed the second-most fantasy factors per recreation to operating backs final season (21.9). Williams ought to make for a top quality FLEX possibility or low-end RB2, particularly since he provides extra pass-catching upside after Denver launched RB Samaje Perine.
Different begins: Raheem Mostert, Miami Dolphins; Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans
Sit: Gus Edwards and J.Ok. Dobbins, Los Angeles Chargers
Raiders at Chargers / 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday
The Chargers backfield might show to be a worthwhile committee in fantasy soccer, because the staff will lean on a run-first offensive strategy beneath HC Jim Harbaugh and OC Greg Roman. Nonetheless, it’s greatest to depart each Edwards and Dobbins on the bench this week just because it’s inconceivable to foretell who will probably be Los Angeles’ lead again. The 2 former Ravens are listed as co-starters on the depth chart, due to this fact you carefully monitor the backfield splits on this contest to assist decide future lineup selections.
Different sits: Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals; Devin Singletary, New York Giants
Huge Receivers
Begin: Tank Dell, Houston Texans
Texans at Colts / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
The 2023 third-round choose is slated to be Houston’s No. 3 wideout, so there’s some threat that comes with inserting him into your FLEX spot. Nonetheless, as a key contributor to an explosive offense who’s taking part in in a recreation with the third-highest projected level complete on this week’s slate (48.5), Dell is well worth the gamble. Given his sturdy rapport with QB C.J. Stroud, Dell ought to obtain loads of targets, and it’s doable he might end as a WR1 if he finds the top zone.
Different begins: Jayden Reed, Inexperienced Bay Packers; Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
Sit: Diontae Johnson, Carolina Panthers
Panthers at Saints / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
There are a lot worse beginning choices than Johnson, QB Bryce Younger’s presumed new No. 1 goal. Nonetheless, seeing as if the lowly Panthers offense has a projected level complete of 18.5, the previous Steeler most likely doesn’t supply week-winning upside towards New Orleans. To not point out that the Saints have been a troublesome matchup for opposing wideouts final season, permitting the ninth-fewest fantasy factors per recreation (19.2) and sixth-fewest receiving touchdowns (12) to the place.
Different sits: George Pickens, Pittsburgh Steelers; Xavier Worthy, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Tight Ends
Begin: Hunter Henry, New England Patriots
Patriots at Bengals / 1 p.m. ET Sunday
In case you punted on the tight finish place throughout your draft or are in want of some insurance coverage for Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts, who’s coping with a hamstring damage, Henry is a worthy streaming candidate. Although the Patriots will probably have one of many worst offenses within the NFL, Henry figures to be one of many prime targets within the passing assault.
In keeping with FanDuel Sportsbook, New England is an 8.5-point underdog towards the Bengals, which means that the staff will probably be compelled to throw the ball regularly. Henry could possibly be the Patriots pass-catcher who advantages essentially the most from such an consequence, on condition that Cincinnati allowed the most receptions (107), second-most receiving yards (1,080) and fourth-most fantasy factors (142) to opposing tight ends in 2023.
Different begins: Tyler Conklin, New York Jets; Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles
Sit: Brock Bowers, Las Vegas Raiders
Raiders at Chargers / 4:05 p.m. ET Sunday
Bowers, the thirteenth total choose on this previous April’s draft, has greater than sufficient expertise to take pleasure in a profitable profession, although he might battle to make an impression in his NFL debut.
Not solely is Bowers taking part in in a Gardner Minshew-led offense the place he’ll compete for targets with wideouts Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, however he additionally has an damage concern. Bowers returned to follow on Wednesday after being sidelined with a foot damage he suffered in Las Vegas’ first preseason recreation. HC Antonio Pierce sounded optimistic about Bowers’ Week 1 standing when chatting with reporters final week, but it surely wouldn’t be shocking if the Raiders restricted the rookie’s workload.
Different sits: Luke Musgrave, Inexperienced Bay Packers; Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans